A single team won a game last week that I predicted them to fall from the Shortlist by losing. Can you guess who it could have possibly been?

1) Well, it's late September, which as all long time Shortlist readers here on Canespace know means it's time for me to start mentioning the myriad number of times the Connecticut Huskies will defy my predictions for their elimination in any given season. This year we get to start by examining their narrow road win in Maryland against their old coach last week by a score of 24-21 as I can only shake my head is resignation that I just need to stop predicting them to ever lose any game ever. Barring that, maybe a move back down to FCS play would do the trick as well for me so I can stop being shown up by this team that should instead be wondering how long until Midnight Madness is it now?

A trio of teams fell in one score games that lead to them being taken off the Shortlist in 2012 a fortnight from October, they are:

1) Kentucky waits a whole week to hit the non automatic qualifier letdown switch in the locker-room as they lose in overtime at home to Western Kentucky 32-31. Just like that Joker Phillips looks to be performing for a completely different court at the end of the year as his team is back on track to suffer their third loosing season in a row. How long until Midnight Madness is it now?

2) Indiana falls for the third time in a row to Ball State 41-39 in Bloomington. Kevin Wilson has already doubled last years win total though so this can still be considered progress for the Hoosier football team. How long until Midnight Madness is it now?

3) Boston College still can't win in Evanston, Illinois as they fall once again to the Wildcats of orthwestern 22-13. Surprisingly Chase Rettig isn't Doug Flutie reincarnated early and didn't throw for four football fields' worth of yards, he only does that against Miami every other time he plays them, never against the Big 10. The Eagles can't even look forward to how long until Midnight Madness is it now, so I guess that makes them the big losers this week?

I expect seven teams to find deletion from the Shortlist this week when the clock reaches zero for them: Missouri, Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, Temple and Louisiana Tech.

From the all time victories leader to the repatriated Big East all time losers, each deleted team will bring the Shortlist incrementally that much closer to the next milestone of only 25 or less teams remaining and the rankings becoming based on worthiness of national title contention resume instead of conference affiliation.

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No, I didn't miscount, despite only six teams listed above I left the most crucial pick this week for last when it comes to Canespace reader's awareness, as Georgia Tech and Miami play in what amounts to a Shortlist elimination game in addition to the crucial division race repercussions. As well as Miami has played the last three years in turning back what had become a nightmare match-up for them when Chan Gailey was the head-coach in Atlanta, this year I just don't see it working out so well for the Hurricanes. I predict another bad coaching job leads to a disappointing double digit loss to a team that could be stopped cold by some of the better college programs in the country and my final Shortlist elimination prediction this week is: Miami.

Try to enjoy the games this week and join me back here next week as hopefully I'll have a nice big helping of crow with a capital C, not Gray though, served up for me to enjoy here on the Shortlist to South Beach where we'll go through the survivors and see who overcomes and who falls by the wayside as the first month of play prepares to finish up.

I want to believe we can win the game. I really do. I am sure by the time kickoff comes around I'll find some way to think we have a chance. But when the other guys are averaging almost 400 yards a game running the ball and we have shown a complete lack of ability to stop the run and Perryman being out it is hard to believe. Ok let me start trying.

We have had their number for three years in a row. This is our fourth game and you have to believe the coaches are getting a feel for which players look good in pads versus which players play well in games. Jimmy Gaines has played in alot of game so he has the experience it is time for him to be PHYSICAL and wrap people up and not just try to tackle them at their legs. The Duke is the most exciting college football player in the country. Ok, I am getting closer.

I have watched both of GT's real games. Their defense is physical at the line of scrimmage. It is going to take a Javarris James type of game from Mike James to consistently move the chains. The GT secondary is only as good as their front seven meaning if we give Stephen Morris time, and he throws accurately, he could have a big day. I was shocked at how inaccurate Logan Thomas of VT was as a passer in the GT game. Rocco from Virginia was better but they feature a tight end passing game and don't even throw much to their recievers. I think we could make some plays in the secondary.

GT's offensive attack is very effective but the big yards do not come from the inside running game anymore. Against VT and especially Virginia, it was the pitch play run as the basic option or the pitch to the man in motion especially that accounted for their biggest yards. That is speed versus speed on the outside. They will hit a few big plays but I like our ability to limit it some.

Tevin Washington is an underrated passer. He had a ton of drops last year by their reciever Hill who is now in the NFL. He does have a tendency to like to throw it in the middle of the field though and maybe we can snare an INT or two.

We have a huge edge in special teams. The whole stadium goes into panic when GT tries a field goal. I didn't see anything in the games I watched that would make us fear their kick or punt return game. I would absolutely fear kicking it to the Duke, and except for the bad play last week, Dorsett is a very good punt returner. Big advantage here for us.

Ok, I am getting closer to seeing how we have a chance to win the game. But the bottom line is this. This team has to play head over heels better defensively against the run to have a chance to win. Morris has to play his best game, Mike James has to play his best game, Morris has to play his best game. We can't give up an 8 minute drive and go three and out and give up another 8 minute drive. The defense has to help the offense and the offense must help the defense by giving it time to rest and adjust during the game. It will take a total team effort to win.

Well the blueprint is out on us. Motion before the snap and we'll act like it was just invented. Defensively I can't help but think GT will run for a lot of yards! I also fear Washington will start his Heisman campaign on us. An average BC QB ripped us up. Offensively speaking I could maybe see us establishing the line of scrimmage. We are just as big and strong but I don't think we always pass protect well. The TE is still a non factor. We get Hurns back which is a HUGE 3rd down plus. I can't see Fisch stopping his quick sideline sprints plays. We gotta get more verticle and take some of the pressure off James and co. My big concern on O is that it seems we don't know situational football or how to score in the redzone. If Miami wins... wow... it will be because they've fixed for one game at least every single issue. They will have played physical opportunistic D (I don't see that happening) they will have moved the ball enough to keep the D rested and will need at least 3 TDs (not so confident in this) and the special teams has to be getting the O and D I'm great situations all night (I think this could be true) Miami HAS to put GT in 3rd and long (BC killed us 3rd and long) and then be up in the fourth Qtr to make them throw.

I will take the Yellow Jackets in this one 38-17.
But will be praying for Miami 34-21.
This game is almost a must win.
It could mean the difference in a 5 or 6 win season.
I say if we don't win 6 games let's start this thing over.

Terry Hoitz: No, I don't like you. I think you're a fake cop. The sound of your piss hitting the urinal, it sounds feminine. If you were in the wild, I would attack you, even if you weren't in my food chain. I would go out of my way to attack you. If I were a lion and you were a tuna, I would swim out in the middle of the ocean and freaking eat you and then I'd bang your tuna girlfriend.
OK, first off: a lion, swimming in the ocean. Lions don't like water. If you placed it near a river or some sort of fresh water source, that make sense. But you find yourself in the ocean, 20 foot wave, I'm assuming off the coast of South Africa, coming up against a full grown 800 pound tuna with his 20 or 30 friends, you lose that battle, you lose that battle 9 times out of 10. And guess what, you've wandered into our school of tuna and we now have a taste of lion. We've talked to ourselves. We've communicated and said 'You know what, lion tastes good, let's go get some more lion'. We've developed a system to establish a beach-head and aggressively hunt you and your family and we will corner your pride, your children, your offspring.
How you gonna do that?
Allen Gamble: We will construct a series of breathing apparatus with kelp. We will be able to trap certain amounts of oxygen. It's not gonna be days at a time. An hour? Hour forty-five? No problem. That will give us enough time to figure out where you live, go back to the sea, get some more oxygen, and stalk you. You just lost at your own game. You're outgunned and out-manned.

This team has to play head over heels better defensively against the run to have a chance to win. Morris has to play his best game, Mike James has to play his best game, Morris has to play his best game. We can't give up an 8 minute drive and go three and out and give up another 8 minute drive. The defense has to help the offense and the offense must help the defense by giving it time to rest and adjust during the game. It will take a total team effort to win.

-2 – Yards averaged per punt return by Georgia Tech’s opponents through three games this season.

2 – Sacks registered by Miami freshman defensive end Tyriq McCord against Bethune-Cookman. The impressive performance gave him the team-lead in the category, and put him in a fourth-place tie in the ACC.

4 – Plays by the Georgia Tech offense that have gone for 70 or more yards this season. They are the only Football Bowl Subdivision school with four such plays, three of which have gone for touchdowns.

5 – Turnovers forced by Miami this season, two more than had occurred through the team’s first three games of 2011.

14 – Hurricanes that have at least one reception in 2012.

17 – Times the Yellow Jackets and the Hurricanes have met; Georgia Tech holds a 10-7 series edge.

50 – Points scored by Georgia Tech in back-to-back games for the first time since 1936 - last week they defeated Virginia by a score of 56-20.

84.3 – Rushing yards per game for Georgia Tech’s Tevin Washington, good for second-most in the ACC.

92 – Points scored by Miami in the last three games against Georgia Tech; the Hurricanes have won all three, and held Georgia Tech to a combined 34 points.

638 – All-purpose yards for Miami freshman running back Duke Johnson. His current pace (212.66 yards/game) has him set for 2,552 yards in 12 games, which would shatter the current UM record of 2,102 yards set by Willis McGahee in 2002.

Hearing Dan Lebartard wine and moan on Colin Cowherd show this morning said our Canes program is in tatters, also I didn't know Larry Coker won 2 of our 5 titles. Smh at that guy. Anyway lets go Canes beat Ga. Tech.

IF Vegas has GT by 14.5 how many will FSU be favored by? If we really turn out to be that bad over the entire season and keep losing by large double digits then the criticism will only get worse, and by worse, I mean totally unbearable.

I don't think that will happen this tyear and I think years three and four of the Golden tenure at UM will show significant improvement.

And if not I can always request to go duck hunting with former VP Dick Cheney, right?

Yeah they do if they want parents to trust the U. Basically they do not even "honor" the ship because it not an athletic scholly anymore, it transfers into a medical hardship scholly and there are differences, meal plan, where you live. but books and tuition are still covered. I know Witt he is a real good kid and if any team ever did not "honor' the ship after a kid got hurt you can best believe that would spread to parents and they would not send their kids to schools that did that.

Of course they have to honor it. Hassan has it right. Not only that, it's just the right thing to do. It would have been dead wrong to kick him to the curb. You don't get props for doing what you're supposed to do.

Dude I was SERIOUS! No way I can take three more years of this. I mean I will always be a UM fan and still buy season tickets and go to games but this blog will become to painful to endure if Golden fails.

SO THEN IT FOLLOWS THAT GOLDEN CANNOT FAIL!

Even if the only good reason for him to succeed is simply to prove OGV wrong about Golden and D'No and Temple. Because if I am wrong about Golden and OGV is right then I and this entire blog is toast.

I would donate to UM today if it meant that the Hurricanes would win tomorrow. Oh and the next week too. And the week after that, and against FSU and VT too.

Okay SOUP,
lets flash a little foward to next year. How many wins is good enough for Golden next year? Keep in mind. Gators in Miami, FSU in Tallahassee, V Tech in Blacksburg. Anyone know when Clemson rolls back on our schedule? Whats the must win number for 2013? It may have to do alot with how we look rather than results, but I'm gonna say its probably 8 or 9.

86,
I will just barely give him a pass at six this year and Golden will be taking advantage of me too because I love the Canes. Also it so danf important to get another bowl ban this year, which I think is the right thing to do. I swear at 5 wins this year, we can kick him to the curb, deuces Golden and dont let the door hit you on the way out! Take your buddy with you! Next year he will have to show a whole lot of something if he doesnt win 8 or 9 games. I think 8 gives him 1 LAST chance in 2014.

Lets not forget what Golden SHOULD of had this year..a veteran team with talented freshman sprinkled in..imagine Miller AND Duke in the backfield and James as a FB..add Streeter to Dorsett and Lewis, add a healthy Forston to the DT rotation and Vernon opposite Chick and we look a lot different.

Why does everybody keep hoping I'm wrong, go back and reread this post;

"Kirby Holcutt failed to deliver on his joke of presser to start this whole carousel off onto its course. Hope he likes the guillotine he's got his neck resting on now. Paterno is only year to year at this point after all.

Let's hope Special-K's employee is better at delivering than his boss was because unlike last coaching change, this isn't in any way a rebuild situation unless the exodus out the door turns into a flood, which it still always has the possibility to become.

Then again, there's no guarantee this guy doesn't just start playing his own recruits in 2011 since coaches like them best and Golden's best Miami team has virtually no shot of showing up until 2013 at the earliest. Anybody impressed with who he beat in the MAC needs to go research just which teams fell to them and then let me know how impressed you remain. The guy's signature win is barely the one he logged over UConn this year, simply because of the opponent's bowl destination more than anything else.

The math still doesn't add up to this being a great, much less even good or a smart move, yet. Gary Patterson will probably play for a national title out of the Big East before Al Golden does out of the ACC. This is more aptly likened to a single back up the middle that just squeezes through the diving middle infield.

2013 at the earliest? Oh, that would be next year wouldn't it? On the other hand, Patterson won't be coming out of the Big East with Shannon as his LB coach for a national title shot anytime soon either.

I hear you UMike. You are describing a different football team. But Golden doesnt have that whether its his fault or not. The good news for him is that The U is probably more calm than the fan base. But I ask you this. At the end of the year, would UMike be satisfied with a 5 win season where the D looks as PATHETIC as it has? I'm really just trying to figure where everyone is at rather than trying to say what is right or not.

UMike, those defections are on Golden as a failure to create team unity and good roster management, so that psyche degree of his might need a little grade examination by some enterprising fans to see if he really knows how to apply it properly instead of just assuming he knows how to do so with ensuing divergent results from those he intended constantly making people mention who could have been on the team as a crutch for his record staying below .500%.